Congress to Vote on Proposal to Increase Vehicle Gas Mileage

Proposal Would Reduce America’s Oil Dependence, Save Texans Billions at the Pump

AUSTIN—With gasoline prices hovering around $3 a gallon and Congress poised to vote on a proposal to increase automobile gas mileage standards to at least 33 miles per gallon (mpg), Environment Texas today released an analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists documenting the benefits of a 33 mpg standard and called on the Texas congressional delegation to support it.   

 “The best way to break America’s oil habit and save consumers money at the pump is to make our cars and SUVs go farther on a gallon of gasoline,” said Environment Texas’ Luke Metzger.

As early as next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a fuel economy bill introduced by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) that allows the Bush administration to re-structure the fuel economy program for passenger cars without guaranteeing that cars will get better gas mileage.  Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) plan to introduce an amendment to the bill requiring an increase in the average fuel economy of cars and SUVs to at least 33 mpg by 2016. 

“The good news is that we already have the technology to make our cars and SUVs get 40 mpg,” said Metzger.  “We need Congress to put American know-how to work to cut oil demand and save consumers money.”

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has estimated that increasing the fuel economy of cars and SUVs to 33 mpg by 2016 would reduce America’s oil demand by 500,000 barrels of oil per day in 2015 and 2.1 million barrels of oil per day in 2025. Nationwide, consumers would save at least $19 billion at the pump in 2015 and $79 billion in 2025. 

Here in Texas, consumers would enjoy net savings of at least $1.6 billion at the gas pump in 2016, according to the UCS analysis. 

Environment Texas called on Congress to support the Markey-Boehlert amendment and to oppose any fuel economy bill that does not set a specific target increase in gas mileage standards.

“If Congress is serious about reducing America’s dependence on oil and saving consumers money at the pump, it’s time for them to support real action to make our cars go farther on a gallon of gas,” stated Metzger.